Working for more than 10 hours per day associated with increased risk of stroke
People who worked long hours had a higher risk of stroke, especially if they worked those hours for 10 years or more, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke. This is the latest in a series of recent studies in which an individual’s stroke risk has been intrinsically linked to his or her quality of life.
Data from the French population-based study group, called CONSTANCES, which started in 2012 was included in this study. Information on age (18-69), sex, smoking and work hours were derived from questionnaires from 143,592 participants. Heart disease risk factors and previous stroke occurrences were noted from separate medical interviews.
The results showed that :
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overall 1,224 of the participants, suffered strokes;
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29% or 42,542, reported working long hours;
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10% or 14,481, reported working long hours for 10 years or more; and
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participants working long hours had a 29% greater risk of stroke, and those working long hours for 10 years or more had a 45% greater risk of stroke.
Long work hours were defined as working more than 10 hours for at least 50 days per year. Part-time workers and those who suffered strokes before working long hours were excluded from the study.
“The association between 10 years of long work hours and stroke seemed stronger for people under the age of 50,” said study author Alexis Descatha, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher at the Paris Hospital, Versailles and Angers University and at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). “This was unexpected. Further research is needed to explore this finding.”
“I would also emphasize that many healthcare providers work much more than the definition of long working hours and may also be at higher risk of stroke,” Descatha said.
Previous studies have suggested that irregular shifts, night work and job strain may be responsible for unhealthy work conditions.
